Building the trust that fuels program growth
In recent years, about two thirds of Americans respond to appeals from charities for support of projects to meet human needs, create new initiatives, advance faith, and reverse wrongs. Nonprofit organizations received $390 billion in donations and were supported by 7.9 billion hours of volunteer service.
Unfortunately, the support is fleeting. For every 100 new donors, American nonprofits lost more than 100. A new report concluded that for every $100 ...

Creating and presenting a strong brand is all about establishing value.
This is especially true if you are selling direct to consumers. If you been dealing primarily with distributors or retailers, your brand is important, but to a lesser degree. If you shift your focus to selling directly to consumers, branding principles begin to apply. Here are some of those principles:
People buy from people and companies they know and trust
People buy products they know and trust
The values people hold d...

Three trendy innovations from Trendwatching:
Last month,Kevin – a device aimed at preventing burglars from entering the home – exceeded its $50,000 Kickstarter funding goal in less than 24 hours. Named after the infamous character from Home Alone, the device simulates the presence of people in the home by emitting light, shadows and sound effects. Research from developers at the Swiss startup suggested the fear of confrontation is more of a deterrent to burglars than security cameras. Kevin wil...

By Julie Stanko, Valcort Digital Marketing Director
It is rare to talk with a corporate leader who is enthusiastic about the performance of the company’s website, and we find great interest in our counsel on improving website results.
Many people recognize that SEO (search engine optimization) is one of the essentials for the success of their website and digital marketing efforts. Most people understand SEO to be a search visibility strategy that is executed after a site is launched. But the g...

A company’s website is often the first point of contact with the world, yet many corporations have been behind the curve when it comes to their web presence. Bowen Craggs & Co., a London-based corporate communication consultancy, has published a critique of the websites of the world’s 200 largest companies, based on 2017 activity.
It’s Index of Online Excellence 2018 lists the 30 best websites, rating them on construction, message, contact, how well they serve user such as investors, media,...

by Katherine Jeffery, PhD
There is a huge generational shift taking place in the world. Some find this exhilarating while others are left scratching their heads, not only wondering what happened but also trying frantically to figure out how to stay relevant. Millennials and Gen Z have upset the status quo that has existed for over half a century, and organizations need to either adapt or learn a new way of recruitment, retention, and engagement.
Millennials are causing quite a stir in the workpl...

Nissan's ProPilot tech will one day be the driving force behind the company's autonomous vehicles, but first, it's all about baby steps. For now, that means using the technology to create self-driving slippers and other objects that stow themselves away when not in use.

The sandals are currently being used at the ProPILOT Park Ryokan, a hotel in Japan, for its guest. Guest are expected to take off their shoes in the lobby and put on the slippers, which can be returned at the touch of a button.

In times of change, the last thing you need to experience—as an employee, a colleague, a corporate leader, or a customer—is the discovery that trust has been violated.
Does any of this sound familiar? A person, group or organization has broken a promise. A manufacturer’s work product is not up to spec as expected. A vital partner doesn’t follow both the letter and the spirit of an agreement.
And the reaction? A break-down of trust sparks change-based anxiety. On the other hand, the remedy for ...

Although the last year has been one of the most contentious political years in memory, in business there are signs that new policies may be creating a growth environment that will benefit both small and large companies.
How do you view the outcomes of the last year, and how they might impact the way you do business?
Here are 7 results from the last year that are likely to impact business.
Tax cuts:Congress has passed a tax overhaul that will cut the corporate rate to 21 percent.
Economic growth...

Valcort Research Report
Over the last 15 years, we have conducted dozens of diagnostic surveys to measure organizational strength on the 35 VALCORT business practices. The Corporate Alignment and Market Readiness Assessment (CAMeRA) takes a snap shot of how well companies are mastering these practices, as well as the alignment of executive and functional teams.
The results of every CAMeRA diagnostic are as different as the companies that participate. But one thing is the same, almost without ...